Anyone wishing to check out any item from the Library needs to have a
library card. Students of BTSR or UPSem should bring their
student identification to the Circulation Desk and fill out a registration
form. A barcode will be printed on the student's library access card; it is needed to check out any circulating item.

All other patrons
wishing to check out items must show a photo ID with current address and
fill out a registration form. Only the Circulation Supervisor or the Assistant
Circulation Supervisor has the authority to approve this request and issue
a borrower's card. If these staff members are not available, the patron's
request will be held until the request can be approved and a card issued
(usually by the following day). No one may borrow any item until this
procedure has been completed. More information about membership will be found HERE.

The Circulation Supervisor
or Assistant Circulation Supervisor will normally be available during these
hours :

Monday
- Friday

8:00
am - 4:00 pm

Checking Out Items

The circulating collection
is available during Library open hours. Most items checked out
in person are charged and discharged from the main Circulation Desk and
must be checked out at least 15 minutes before closing time every day.

Visual media items (videos and DVDs) are charged in the Instructional Resource Center, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday. If you wish to charge visual media at any other time, please make arrangements in advance to have the item(s) left for you for pickup at the Circulation Desk.
Materials sent through the Extension service are charged and discharged
through the library’s Instructional Resource Center.

Returning Items

Borrowers can return
materials at the Circulation Desk, in the book drop at the front of the
Library when we are closed, or through the mail. Materials returned through
the book drop will not be discharged until the following day. Materials
returned through the mail will be discharged on the day the library receives
the materials.

Non-Circulating Materials

Most books, media
and curriculum items are available for lending to all patrons. But certain
materials in the collection do not circulate either because it is essential
that they be available to the entire community at all times or because
of their value. These include :§ Periodicals, bound and unbound§ books on course reserve§ Items marked “Ref.”, most of which
are located in the Reference room§ books marked “Rare”§ books bearing a star (*) above the call number§ unclassified graduate theses§ records or minutes of church courts and archival
records and manuscripts§ pamphlets and newspapers§ microforms§ Graduate Seminar collection (Reserve Room) § Chapel Collection (Reserve Room) § vertical file material

Borrowing Periods

Different privileges
are accorded to different patron statuses.
If a patron falls into several categories, the most permissive of the
patron privileges will apply.

For a table showing details of borrowing periods for all patrons,
click HERE.

Renewals

Renewals, where permitted,
may be initiated by the patron from the library’s online catalog,
or a patron can request a renewal in person, by phone or by email.

Renewals will not be allowed if a hold or recall is currently active on
that item or if a patron has more than $10 in fines or other charges.

To renew your borrowed items online, please follow the detailed instructions in our catalog tutorial. A video tutorial is also available on that page.

Recalls

Any patron can request
the recall of any item in the circulating collection once the item in
question has been on loan for 3 weeks or in the case of media, once the
media item has been borrowed for its normal loan period.
The library always reserves the right to recall any item from circulation
at any time if it is required for Course Reserves or other instructional
use.

Items that are not returned within four days of a recall notice are fined
at a rate of $1.00 per day.

Holds

On the library’s
online catalog, a patron can place a hold on any item in the circulating
collection that has been charged out to another patron. If a hold is placed
on an item, that item cannot be renewed by the patron who has borrowed
it. For detailed instructions on placing a hold, please see our catalog tutorial.

Patrons will be notified when an item that they have requested be placed
on hold has been returned to the library and is now available. The material
will be held at the Circulation Desk for one week after notification.
If the hold was placed on behalf of an extension patron, the material
will be mailed as soon as possible after it becomes available.

Holds cannot be placed on items that are currently available on the shelves
of the library.

Materials in Assigned Carrels

Starred (*) books must remain in the Library building; they can be checked out to graduate students or faculty with assigned carrels and used only in those carrels. However, any books checked out to a carrel are counted in the total number of books allowed to be borrowed under a person’s patron status.

Every book in a carrel must be checked out properly on the occupant’s account; no unloaned book may be left in any carrel. No journals or periodicals may be kept in a carrel. A fine of $5 will be levied for each periodical or unloaned book left in an assigned carrel. The second time such an item is found in a carrel, the occupant’s carrel privileges will be revoked.

Fines, Overdue Notices and Replacement Charges

A. Fines(All patron classes are subject to fines and library charges)

Circulating
Collection overdues: 10¢ per day per itemCourse Reserve overdues: 50¢ per hour per itemInterlibrary Loan overdues: $1 per day per item;
Interlibrary loaned Items overdue 7 days will result in suspension of
library privileges.
Recalled items not returned within 4 days of recall notice: $1 per day
per itemReplacement charges: The library staff will determine
the appropriate charge for items that must be replaced in the collection
because of lost items or excessively overdue items. If a hard copy of
an item is in print, replacement charges will be include the cost of the
hard copy plus $30 processing fee. If an item is not in print and a valid
replacement cost cannot be identified, the replacement cost will be $60.

When a patron’s
bill for fines or replacement costs exceeds $10.00, that patron’s
borrowing privileges will be suspended until the items are returned and
the full bill paid.

In case of noncompliance with Library policy, the patron's privileges may be revoked and the patron barred.

B. Overdue
Notices and Replacement Charges

a. First
notices: As a courtesy to patrons, an email will be sent to patrons
one week prior to a borrowed item’s due date. b. Second notices: Patrons will be sent either by U.S.
mail or via e-mail (if an email address is available to the library) a
notice that a borrowed item is overdue one week. c. Third notices: Patrons will be sent either by U.S.
mail or via e-mail (if available) a notice that a borrowed item is two
weeks overdue. This communication will indicate the patron’s borrowing
privileges have been suspended and warned that the next notice will include
a bill for the replacement of the overdue item (replacement cost plus
processing fees).d. Final notice: A final notice will be sent via U.S.
mail or via e-mail (if available) when a borrowed item is one month overdue.
This notice will be a bill for replacement costs plus a $30 processing
charge. If an item is not in print and a valid replacement cost cannot
be identified, the replacement cost will be $60. e. Suspension
of Patron Privileges: A patron’s privileges will be suspended
if fines and/or charges to his or her account exceed $10. Privileges will
be restored when all financial obligations have been settled and overdue
items returned. All patrons will be sent a bill for unpaid overdue charges
by June 1 of each year. No patron privileges will be renewed until fines/bills are paid.